In a tragic incident over the weekend, Alex Pretti, 37, was fatally shot after an encounter with federal immigration officers in the city. Witnesses say Pretti was thrown to the ground during the altercation.

According to Tricia McLaughlin, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, officers responded with “defensive shots” after a man approached them brandishing a firearm.

However, video footage captured by a bystander seems to contradict this claim, showing Pretti on the ground with a phone in one hand and nothing visible in the other.

Local authorities have indicated that Pretti was legally licensed to carry a firearm in public.

This incident has intensified national tensions, occurring just weeks after another controversial shooting where an ICE officer shot and killed Renee Good, a mother, in the same city.

Taking to social media, the Obamas called Pretti’s death “a heartbreaking tragedy”, and took the rare step of attacking the Trump administration.

In the joint post, they said “many of our core values as a nation are increasingly under assault”.

“Federal law enforcement and immigration agents have a tough job. But Americans expect them to carry out their duties in a lawful, accountable way, and to work with, rather than against, state and local officials to ensure public safety,” they said.

“That’s not what we’re seeing in Minnesota. In fact, we’re seeing the opposite.”

They said people were “rightly outraged” by the actions of ICE and other federal agents that they claimed were designed to “intimidate, harass, provoke, and endanger” Minneapolis residents.

“These unprecedented tactics – which even the former top lawyer of the Department of Homeland Security in the first Trump administration has characterised as embarrassing, lawless and cruel – have now resulted in the fatal shootings of two US citizens,” the Obamas said.

“And yet rather than trying to impose some semblance of discipline and accountability over the agents they’ve deployed, the president and current administration officials seem eager to escalate the situation, while offering public explanations for the shootings of Mr Pretti and Renee Good that aren’t informed by any serious investigation – and that appear to be directly contradicted by video evidence.”

They urged the federal administration to “work constructively” with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.

”In the meantime, every American should support and draw inspiration from the wave of peaceful protests in Minneapolis and other parts of the country,” they said.

“They are a timely reminder that ultimately it’s up to each of us as citizens to speak out against injustice, protect our basic freedoms, and hold our government accountable.”